What is the YouTube video ratio?
The standard YouTube video ratio is 16:9, at 1920×1080 px for 1080p. YouTube Shorts use 9:16 (1080×1920 px). A square or vertical video of 3 minutes or less is classified as a Short; anything wider, or longer, is a regular long-form video.
PostEverywhere schedules YouTube videos and Shorts with your title, description and custom thumbnail. See how YouTube scheduling works.
The shape you export decides more than how the video looks: it decides whether YouTube treats your upload as a Short or a long-form video. This guide covers every YouTube size we could check against YouTube's own help pages: long-form, Shorts, thumbnails, banners, profile pictures, end screens, ads and upload settings.
YouTube aspect ratios at a glance
The shapes YouTube uses, side by side. 16:9 for long-form video, 9:16 for Shorts, and thumbnails that match each.
| Format | Aspect ratio | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-form video | 16:9 | 1920×1080 px | Standard player |
| Shorts | 9:16 | 1080×1920 px | Square or vertical, up to 3 min |
| Square Short | 1:1 | 1080×1080 px | Also counts as a Short |
| Video thumbnail | 16:9 | 1280×720 px | Up to 3840×2160 |
| Shorts thumbnail | 9:16 | 1080×1920 px | Up to 2160×3840 |
YouTube Video Dimensions Cheat Sheet
| Format | Aspect ratio | Size in pixels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-form video (1080p) | 16:9 | 1920×1080 | The standard YouTube video size |
| Long-form video (4K) | 16:9 | 3840×2160 | Highest common upload |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Square or vertical, up to 3 minutes |
| Square Short | 1:1 | 1080×1080 | Also counts as a Short |
| Video thumbnail | 16:9 | 1280×720 to 3840×2160 | Minimum width 640 px |
| Shorts thumbnail | 9:16 | Up to 2160×3840 | Minimum height 640 px |
| Channel banner | 16:9 | 2560×1440 | Safe area 1546×423 in the middle |
| Profile picture | 1:1 | Shows at 98×98 | Displayed as a circle |
The short version: export long-form at 16:9 and your camera's native resolution, export Shorts at 1080×1920 and keep them to 3 minutes or less, and upload a thumbnail that matches the video's shape.
Schedule YouTube Shorts and long-form videos ahead. PostEverywhere publishes to YouTube with your title, description and custom thumbnail, at a time that suits your viewers. See how scheduling YouTube works.
YouTube Long Video Ratio: 16:9
YouTube says it plainly: "The standard aspect ratio for YouTube on a computer is 16:9." For long videos, export at 16:9 in the highest resolution your footage supports.
YouTube video resolutions and sizes (16:9)
| Resolution | Size in pixels |
|---|---|
| 240p | 426×240 |
| 360p | 640×360 |
| 480p | 854×480 |
| 720p (HD) | 1280×720 |
| 1080p (HD) | 1920×1080 |
| 1440p (2K) | 2560×1440 |
| 2160p (4K) | 3840×2160 |
| 4320p (8K) | 7680×4320 |
These are the sizes in YouTube's resolution and aspect ratio guide. 1080p (1920×1080) is the size most creators upload. To make a still image fit, the image resizer exports at 1920×1080 or 1080×1920.
Don't add black bars
If your footage isn't 16:9 (old 4:3 clips, or cinematic 21:9), upload it at its own shape. The YouTube player adds padding itself, "white by default, and dark gray when Dark theme is turned on", and YouTube's guidance is to "avoid adding padding or black bars directly to your video." Bars you add yourself stay there on every screen, including phones.
Aspect Ratio for YouTube Shorts: 9:16
YouTube Shorts are 9:16 at 1080×1920 px. Square (1:1) videos also count. Google's Shorts ad guidance says "Vertical videos, with a 9:16 aspect ratio, are best suited for the Shorts format" and "deliver better performance compared to landscape assets."
Is my video a Short?
YouTube classifies a video as a Short when it has "a square or vertical aspect ratio" and is "up to three minutes in length". That rule applies to uploads after October 15, 2024 (December 8, 2025 for Official Artist Channels).
If you don't want a vertical clip treated as a Short, YouTube's advice is to "use a wider aspect ratio such as 16:9".
Is my YouTube video a Short?
YouTube decides from the shape and the length of the file you upload. Both conditions must be true. Anything wider than square (like 16:9), or longer than 3 minutes, is a regular long-form video.
- Square or verticalThe frame is 1:1 or taller, such as 9:16 (1080×1920).
- 3 minutes or shorterA 3:01 vertical video is long-form, not a Short.
- It's a ShortIt is shown in the Shorts feed and can take a 9:16 custom thumbnail.
What that means in practice:
- A 9:16 video at 3:01 is a long-form video that happens to be vertical.
- A 1:1 square video at 30 seconds is a Short.
- A 16:9 video at 30 seconds is not a Short. Horizontal videos never qualify, whatever the length.
Shorts safe zone
YouTube doesn't publish pixel safe zones for Shorts. The overlays are the like, comment and share buttons down the right side, and the title, channel name and audio along the bottom.
Keep text and faces in the middle of the frame, away from the right edge and the bottom fifth. A layout that fits Instagram's Reels safe zone (top 14%, bottom 35%, 6% on each side) also clears these overlays, so one 1080×1920 export works on both.
Shorts length
Shorts can run up to 3 minutes. The Shorts feed plays the first 60 seconds of a Shorts ad, and Google recommends 10 to 30 seconds for action-focused vertical ads. For organic Shorts, use the length the idea needs.
See the best time to post YouTube Shorts for when to publish them, based on our own data.
YouTube Thumbnail Size
YouTube's custom thumbnail guidance:
- Videos: 16:9, ideally 3840×2160 px, with a minimum width of 640 px. 1280×720 is the common baseline.
- Shorts: 9:16, ideally 2160×3840 px, with a minimum height of 640 px.
- Podcast playlists: 1:1 square.
- File types: JPG or PNG, among others.
- File size: up to 2 MB for video thumbnails on mobile (10 MB for podcasts), or 50 MB on a computer.
Most viewers see thumbnails small on a phone, so use large text, strong contrast and one clear subject. Keep important details away from the bottom-right corner, where the video length is shown.
YouTube Banner Size and Safe Area
Upload the channel banner at 2560×1440 px (16:9), 6 MB or smaller. YouTube's minimum is 2048×1152 px, and at that size the "safe area for text and logos" is 1235×338 px. Scaled up to 2560×1440, that safe area is about 1546×423 px in the middle.
| Area | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Upload (full canvas, shown on TVs) | 2560×1440 px | 16:9, 6 MB or smaller. Minimum 2048×1152. |
| Safe area | 1546×423 px | Visible on every device. YouTube states it as 1235×338 at the 2048×1152 minimum. |
| Outside the safe area | Rest of the canvas | May be cropped on smaller screens. Use it for background only. |
Anything outside the safe area can be cropped on smaller screens, so use it for background only.
Profile Picture
YouTube profile pictures show as a circle at 98×98 px. Upload a square JPG, PNG, BMP or still GIF of up to 15 MB, and keep your face or logo in the middle so the circle doesn't clip it.
End Screens
End screens need a video of at least 25 seconds, and they appear in the last 5 to 20 seconds. You can add up to four elements on a 16:9 video.
They don't show on videos set as made for kids, in YouTube Music or YouTube Kids, on 360 videos or on mobile web (except on iPad), so don't rely on them for anything essential.
Read how the YouTube algorithm works for what keeps viewers watching.
YouTube Live Streaming
Live streams follow the same 16:9 standard; vertical streams show with padding on computers. Most encoders push to YouTube through a standard RTMP server, and whatever output resolution you set there is what YouTube receives, so set the encoder to 1920x1080 before going live rather than relying on the platform to pad a mismatched frame for you.
YouTube Ad Lengths
From Google's video ad formats guide:
| Ad type | Length |
|---|---|
| Skippable in-stream | No maximum (under 3 minutes recommended) |
| Non-skippable in-stream | 15 to 60 seconds, depending on the campaign |
| Bumper | 6 seconds |
| In-feed | No maximum |
| Shorts | Under 60 seconds recommended |
Make 16:9 versions for in-stream placements and 9:16 versions for Shorts. AI Studio can create images at 16:9 and 9:16.
Let your AI agent schedule your uploads. Connect Claude or ChatGPT to PostEverywhere and ask it to schedule this week's Shorts and videos at good times. Connect your AI agent.
YouTube Upload Settings and File Size
From YouTube's recommended upload encoding settings:
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Container | MP4 |
| Video codec | H.264 |
| Audio codec | AAC-LC (or Opus) |
| Frame rate | Keep the frame rate you recorded at; common rates are 24, 25, 30, 48, 50 and 60 fps |
| Bitrate, 1080p | 8 Mbps (12 Mbps at 48 to 60 fps) |
| Bitrate, 4K | 35 to 45 Mbps (53 to 68 Mbps at 48 to 60 fps) |
| Maximum upload | 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less |
By default you can upload videos up to 15 minutes long; verified accounts can upload longer videos.
Repurposing Long-Form Into Shorts
Turning one 16:9 video into several 9:16 Shorts is the easiest way to keep the Shorts feed busy without filming more.
- Pick moments that stand on their own, with a hook in the first seconds.
- Reframe, don't just crop. Move the subject into a 1080×1920 frame, or punch in and add captions.
- Keep text and faces in the middle, clear of the buttons on the right and the title at the bottom.
- Export at 1080×1920 and 3 minutes or less so YouTube classifies it as a Short.
- Write a title for the Short itself rather than reusing the long video's. AI Studio can draft a few options.
The same 1080×1920 file also works as a TikTok or Instagram Reel. PostEverywhere lets you post it to each platform with its own caption, from one upload. See the sizes TikTok uses too.
How to Schedule YouTube Videos and Shorts With PostEverywhere
- Create the post and add your video. One video per post.
- Choose YouTube and add the title, description and a custom thumbnail image. YouTube decides whether the video is a Short from its shape and length.
- Pick a time. PostEverywhere suggests good times as you schedule, and your posting queue can fill the slots for you.
Get the size right, then post at the right time. Start a 7-day free trial of PostEverywhere; plans start at $9 a month. See pricing.
Common YouTube Aspect Ratio Mistakes
- Uploading a vertical video over 3 minutes and expecting a Short. It becomes a long-form video.
- Uploading a 16:9 clip as a Short. Horizontal videos are never Shorts.
- Adding black bars to 4:3 footage. The player pads it for you.
- Putting your logo at the edge of the banner. Only the centre safe area shows on every device.
- Uploading a low-resolution thumbnail. Use at least 1280×720 for videos.
- Using a 16:9 thumbnail for a Short. Shorts take a 9:16 thumbnail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the YouTube video ratio?
16:9 is the standard YouTube video ratio, at 1920×1080 px for 1080p. YouTube Shorts use 9:16 at 1080×1920 px.
What aspect ratio is 1920×1080?
1920×1080 is 16:9. It is the standard size for a 1080p YouTube video.
Are YouTube videos 16:9?
Yes. YouTube says the standard aspect ratio on a computer is 16:9. Other shapes still play; the player adds padding around them.
What is the aspect ratio for YouTube Shorts?
9:16 vertical at 1080×1920 px. Square 1:1 videos also count as Shorts if they are 3 minutes or shorter.
What is the YouTube long video ratio?
16:9, the same as any standard YouTube video. A vertical video over 3 minutes is also uploaded as a long video, but it shows with padding on computers.
How long can a YouTube Short be?
Up to 3 minutes, for videos uploaded after October 15, 2024. A square or vertical video of 3 minutes or less is classified as a Short.
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
16:9 for videos, ideally 3840×2160 px with a minimum width of 640 px; 1280×720 is the common baseline. Shorts thumbnails are 9:16, ideally 2160×3840 px.
What is the YouTube banner size?
Upload 2560×1440 px, 6 MB or smaller. Keep text and logos inside the centre safe area of about 1546×423 px (1235×338 px at the 2048×1152 minimum).
What video formats does YouTube support?
YouTube recommends MP4 with H.264 video and AAC-LC audio. Uploads can be up to 256 GB or 12 hours, whichever is less.
For other platforms, see the social media image sizes guide and the Instagram aspect ratio guide. For timing, see how PostEverywhere picks your best times.
Sources
- YouTube Help: Video resolution and aspect ratios
- YouTube Help: Understand three-minute YouTube Shorts
- YouTube Help: Add video thumbnails
- YouTube Help: Manage your channel branding
- YouTube Help: Add end screens to videos
- YouTube Help: YouTube recommended upload encoding settings
- YouTube Help: Upload videos longer than 15 minutes
- Google Ads Help: About YouTube Shorts ads
- Google Ads Help: Video ad formats
Founder & CEO of PostEverywhere. Writing about social media strategy, publishing workflows, and analytics that help brands grow faster.
